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Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 5/2011

Open Access 01-10-2011 | Original paper

Atrial fibrillation: the cost of illness in Sweden

Authors: Lisa Ericson, Lennart Bergfeldt, Ingela Björholt

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 5/2011

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Abstract

Aim

To provide an estimate of the annual cost of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Sweden.

Methods

Prevalence-based cost analysis of AF in Sweden for 2007. Direct medical (hospitalizations, hospital outpatient care, primary health care, non-pharmacological interventions, pharmaceuticals, and anticoagulation monitoring) and non-medical (transportation associated with health care visits) costs of AF, direct costs of AF complications (stroke and heart failure), and indirect costs (production loss), were included. Data were based on Swedish registries, reports and databases, published literature, and an expert panel.

Results

There were 100,557 individuals with AF as primary or secondary diagnosis that were either hospitalized or treated in hospital outpatient care in 2007. The total cost of AF was estimated at €708 million. The major cost driver was the direct cost of complications (54%), followed by hospitalization due to AF including AF as secondary diagnosis (18%), and production loss (12%).

Conclusion

This is a comprehensive, nation-based cost analysis of AF where relevant data were derived from national registries covering the entire Swedish population. The results showed that the annual cost of AF was high in comparison with other diseases, but likely to be underestimated as a conservative approach was applied in the analysis.
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Metadata
Title
Atrial fibrillation: the cost of illness in Sweden
Authors
Lisa Ericson
Lennart Bergfeldt
Ingela Björholt
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 5/2011
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-010-0261-3

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